Making a Handle

[Michael A. T.]

I have a tool someone made for me.The tang from the handle end to the beginning of the cutting tool is 6" long.The width of this piece is 7/8". It is 3/8" thick. I thought about grinding an equal amount off of each side but dont want want to do this.I thought about taking 2 pieces of wood and routing a groove in each piece so that the tool would fit snugly in it but I think this would end up being a bigger handle than I want.Im scratching my head on this and dont have a whole lot of time to put in to this as my schedule is jam packed to say the least...Rather be using the tool...Thanks for any help !!!.

[Bill Holt]

I had a similar, but smaller, challenge.  I drilled, then turned the blank and secured the tool with epoxy.

Don't know if that helps, but it worked for me.

[MichaelMouse]

Square peg in round hole perfectly acceptable in woodworking.  The tang is a BIG square nail.  Turning tools have tapered tangs, so taper away, leaving as much section initially as you feel is necessary, say 1/2" if you're going to use it to pry.  Allows you to taper the hole(s) by using larger and larger bits to lesser depths if you'd like.  End up with that 3/8 or skosh larger and set the tang in the hole.  Drive it by hitting the end of the handle on your benchtop, and letting inertia drive it. don't hit the metal. 

If it ever seems to be getting a bit loose, rap the end of the handle again, and it'll wedge and tighten. 

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRestora...hisel.html

[iclark]

Robo Hippy has a very good video on making a handle for a square tang tool by laminating 3 pieces of wood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HCjFdcfyaQ

Somethings to note:


- if you do put the tool in a pre-made handle with a round hole, break the corners on the tang first

- you do not need to put the whole tang in the handle. Depending on total length of the steel, 2-1/2" to 3" should be plenty.

- if the tool that your friend made for you is a skew, then break the long edges of the blade to make it move easier on the rest and to stop it cutting into a cast iron rest. The same concept applies to the long edges of scrapers that you are going to shear scrape with.

[robo hippy]

The tool description sounds like my larger Big Ugly tool. The video covers it pretty well, but for this one, if you don't cut or grind the sides down, you will need a 1 inch inside diameter or slightly larger ferrule. I did cut mine down with a jig saw and a metal blade, carbide tipped one. I don't have a metal cutting bandsaw. 5/8 inch wide is more than enough to support that tool.

robo hippy

[Michael A. T.]

Ill get the grinder out and make it smaller.It will work out fine!  Thanks!

[sniper]

Robo Hippy has a very good video on making a handle for a square tang tool by laminating 3 pieces of wood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HCjFdcfyaQ

+1, this way you can make the opening to fit whatever rectangle/square you've got.